But Miss Gamble, a fourth-year journalism and hispanic studies student at Sheffield University who is preparing to compete in an international beauty pageant competition, has refused to let embarrassing symptoms hold her back.

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More than 146,000 people in the UK suffer with ulcerative colitis, a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

More than 18,000 new cases of IBD, which also includes Crohn's Disease, are diagnosed every year.

TOWIE star Sam Faiers and American actress Shannen Doherty are among celebrities known to suffer with IBD.

Honest: Amber with her boyfriend, Alex Cowan-San Luis, 24. She says she has chosen to be open about her condition, despite some of the symptoms

Miss Gamble, of Denham, Buckinghamshire, was diagnosed after a year of experiencing alarming and unpleasant symptoms.

She said: 'I was experiencing difficult stomach cramps, diarrhoea and I was losing blood and mucus.

'After the diagnosis it was quite daunting to think about how I would cope. Everyone responds to treatment in different ways, so finding a balance of medication can be quite tricky. Luckily my consultant was fantastic.'

But a year on from her diagnosis, the medication stopped working.

She recalled: 'I suffered an extremely bad flare-up which meant I had to stay in hospital for a week, taking steroids intravenously.

Defiant: Amber, a student who is preparing to compete in an international beauty pageant competition, has refused to let embarrassing symptoms hold her back

Moving forward: 'Over the years I¿ve learned not to dwell on my circumstances, I just have to keep going,' she said

'At one point the doctors considered removing part of my bowel, but they eventually found a balance of higher-dosage medication which worked for me, so I didn’t need surgery in the end.

WHAT IS ULCERATIVE COLITIS?

Ulcerative Colitis is a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum and colon (the large bowel).

In UC, tiny ulcers develop on the surface of the lining and these may bleed and produce pus.

The inflamed colon is less able to absorb liquid and this can lead to a larger volume of watery stools. Also, because the colon cannot hold as much as usual, you may have very frequent bowel movements (six or more a day).

The condition affects men and women equally.

Viruses, bacteria, diet and stress have all been suggested as environmental triggers, but there is no definite evidence that any one of these factors is the cause of UC.

It’s estimated that Ulcerative Colitis affects about one in every 420 people in the UK.

It’s more common in urban rather than rural areas and in northern developed countries, although the numbers are beginning to increase in developing nations.

UC is also more common in white people of European descent, especially those descended from Ashkenazi Jews (those who lived in Eastern Europe and Russia)

'Today the flare-ups occur approximately every three months. I take steroids when I need to, but I take a least five different pills a day.

'Flare-ups are very unpleasant. I lose blood, which is always a concern, but I also don’t absorb enough nutrients from food which makes me exhausted over time.

'Fatigue is one of the most devastating symptoms, even though it’s the one which people tend to take less seriously. It’s a constant battle to overcome the tiredness.

'It can wear you down. You feel like you’re being a wimp when everyone else is being energetic. All you can do is fight through it.

'I go to the gym a lot and enjoy doing workout videos at home. Being into health and fitness training has helped me to cope with my condition.

'The most annoying thing about having colitis at this age is the effect it has on your social life. Sometimes I’m too tired to go out, and when I do, I can’t really drink alcohol.

'Drinking has a bad effect on me - it can leave me prone to flare-ups and I can have hangovers that last for days at a time.

'I can’t really be a party animal, but my close group of friends are very understanding if I make apologies and leave the night early.'

She has received support from her parents and her boyfriend of three years, Alex Cowan-San Luis, 24.

She said: 'For a lot of people with colitis, starting a relationship can be quite difficult. But I’ve taken the attitude that it’s better to be open from the start. If they can’t cope with it, then it’s not meant to be.

Competition: Amber is now urging other young sufferers of bowel condition not to suffer in silence

'Alex studied medicine so he knew what my condition entailed. I’m always really open with him and he’s very supportive when I need hospital visits.

'Sometimes when I’m on high doses of steroids my hormones become a bit erratic, and I experience fluctuations in mood.

But my family have been very supportive and I’m in close contact with the charity Crohn's and Colitis UK, which has given me a great network. I know not everyone has that level of support.'

Despite the constant demands of
managing her condition, Miss Gamble maintains a hectic daily schedule.
Aside from her studies she exercises frequently and takes part in beauty
pageants.

Fellow sufferers: TOWIE star Sam Faiers and American actress Shannen Doherty are among celebrities known to suffer with bowel disorders

She was crowned Miss Buckinghamshire in 2010 and competed in the Miss England competition later that year.

Last
month she competed in Miss South Yorkshire and she is due to take part
in the Miss Scuba UK competition ahead of international finals in Egypt
later this year.

She said:
'It’s great fun. You meet some great girls. There’s an image of beauty
pageants which is one of girls simply parading down catwalks, but
there’s a lot more to it than that.

'You have to do lots of charity work in the run-up to the event and you have to take part in challenging boot camps.'